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Social influence in childhood obesity interventions: a systematic review

M S Jalali1, Z Sharafi-Avarzaman2, H Rahmandad1

  • 1Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|May 4, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Family social influence significantly impacts childhood obesity interventions. Targeting parental behaviors can enhance intervention effectiveness by leveraging family dynamics for better nutrition and physical activity outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Science
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Family environment and parental behavior heavily influence children's health habits.
  • Existing obesity interventions often overlook family-level social dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how family social influence moderates childhood obesity interventions.
  • To identify pathways through which family dynamics affect intervention efficacy.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for health professionals and researchers.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of obesity interventions targeting parental behavior.
  • Searched PubMed (1966-2013) and Web of Science (1900-2013).
  • Included 32 studies meeting specific inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

  • Identified existing mechanisms of parental influence on children's behavior.
  • Developed a causal pathway diagram illustrating social influence in childhood obesity.
  • Highlighted the moderating role of family-level factors.

Conclusions:

  • Family-based social influence is a critical factor in childhood obesity intervention success.
  • Leveraging family social influence can improve intervention outcomes.
  • Recommendations are provided for optimizing interventions through family engagement.

Keywords:
Childhood obesityfamily-based interventionsocial influenceweight-related behaviours

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